2008 College Picks Record 1-0 + 2.00units

SMU at Rice
Friday, 8:00 pm Eastern – ESPN

SBG Global Opening Line: Rice  -  3  ,  Total  70

 

There is finally some excitement surrounding the SMU football team this season as former Hawaii head coach June Jones is in charge.  SMU needs some serious help as they won just a single game a year ago and have lost their last 10 games overall.  They did not win a single game in Conference USA last season.  The good news is that the Mustangs were not that far from success, as five of their eight losses came by a touchdown or less, including three overtime losses.  They definitely have a chance in this game as Rice was only 3-9 last season.

SBG Global reports that early NCAA Football betting has the public taking Rice at Home.

SMU will try and run the same spread offense that Jones used at Hawaii. Freshmen quarterbacks Bo Levi Mitchell and Braden Smith will be running the offense with wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders the big play threat.  He had 889 yards receiving last year and scored nine times.  Last year SMU finished 116^th in total defense so SMU games could look a lot like Hawaii games with a lot of points being put on the board.

 

Rice returns quarterback Chase Clement who threw for 3,377 yards and 19 TDs last season.  The top four receivers on the team also return.  Rice was just about as bad defensively last year as SMU as they gave up 42.9 points per game. Rice won only one home game last season.

 

Here are the NCAA Football betting stats for Friday’s game.  The teams met last November and Rice won 43-42.  SMU leads the all-time series 45-39-1. The Mustangs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games. The Mustangs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on turf. The Mustangs are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games overall. The Mustangs are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 meetings at Rice.

SBG Global Current Line: Rice  -  3  ,  Total  70

 

The Owls are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 conference games. The Owls are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games on turf. The home team is 10-2 ATS in the last 12 meetings between the two teams.

 

The Under is 4-1 in the Mustangs last 5 road games. The Over is 23-3 in the Owls last 26 games on turf. The Over is 21-4 in the Owls last 25 conference games. The Over is 21-5 in the Owls last 26 home games. The Over is 40-11 in the Owls last 51 games overall. The Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between the two teams.

 

Pick Rice 3units